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GO TO 2040 Portraits

The GO TO 2040 plan is about improving quality of life for residents, who are the region's greatest renewable resource. To highlight how the plan's themes and recommendations can shape our daily lives, a series of "Portraits" describes individuals from across the region who shared their personal stories and hopes for the future. Each portrait features a video, photos, and a short profile.

Orlando GomezAt 14, Orlando Gomez faced a life-changing decision. Should he spend three hours commuting daily to a top-rated magnet high school? Or avoid the arduous trip and attend his local school despite a hostile environment that had touched two older brothers who preceded him there?

Jasmine EasterFor most of us, farming is not an occupation we'd associate with Chicago's south side. But for 37-year-old Jasmine Easter, a small urban farm in the Englewood neighborhood was her leg up toward a better career.

Mike AbtWhen Mike Abt started recycling cardboard 20 years ago to help his family business become "more green," it wasn't just the eco-friendliness that appealed to him.

Cindi SwansonGrocery shopping, getting to work, and taking kids to school can be a hassle for anyone. But when 56-year-old Cindi Swanson lost her vision 15 years ago, she learned just how difficult these everyday tasks can be.

John Hatcher Jr.When 8-year-old John Hatcher Jr. imagines the future, his first wish is for a clean world: "Then the sky can be blue, the grass can be green. There'd be no pollution, and people would care about each other. I'd really like a perfect world."

More Portraits

As part of promoting implementation of the GO TO 2040plan, CMAP posted additional portraits of individual residents whose experiences help to bring the plan's concepts to life.

Rick HelwigFourteen years ago, with the field of weatherization in its infancy, Rick Helwigsaw an opportunity for innovation. He soon found himself taking the lead to help build a market for making homes more energy efficient.

Geoffrey BaerFor years, Geoffrey Baerhas reported on the unique communities of metropolitan Chicago. His video tours are a staple of WTTW-TV, giving residents a televised glimpse of their own hometowns and parts of the region that they have yet to visit. In person, he conveys a combined sense of history and progress that helps people think differently about where and how they live.